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Biomedical subjects

Nico J M Rijkhoff

Publications and source records attributed to Nico J M Rijkhoff.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Acute urodynamic effects of posterior tibial nerve stimulation on neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with MS.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether acute electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve could suppress detrusor contractions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity. METHODS: Two successive slow-fill cystometries (16 ml/min) were carried out in eight MS patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity. The first filling served as control without stimulation. In the second filling, electrical stimulation using needle electrodes was applied automatically to the posterior tibial nerve when the detrusor pressure exceeded 10 cm H(2)O. An additional filling in which the needle electrodes were replaced by surface electrodes was carried out in three patients. RESULTS: The control filling showed detrusor overactivity in eight patients, but electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve failed to suppress detrusor contractions in all tested patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although neuromodulative effects may be obtained with therapeutic electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve, no acute effects were demonstrated. For this reason, electrical stimulation of pudendal afferents remains the only option if acute suppression of a detrusor contraction is required.

Adult↗

Colon emptying induced by sequential electrical stimulation in rats.

Electrical stimulation could be used to induce colon emptying. The present experiments were performed to establish a stimulation pattern to optimize the stimulation parameters and to test neural involvement in propulsion induced by electrical stimulation. Colon segments were sequentially stimulated using rectangular pulses. The resulting propulsive activity displaced intraluminal content in consecutive propulsion steps. The propulsion steps differed in displacement latency, distance, and velocity along the stimulated colon. Increasing the pulse duration or amplitude resulted in a decrease of the latency. Increasing the stimulation amplitude doubled the displacement distance. The frequencies tested in the present study did not affect propulsion. Inhibition of cholinergic and nitrergic pathways inhibited propulsion. Electrical stimulation can induce colonic propulsion. Motor differences are present along the descending colon. The most suitable combination of pulse parameters regarding colon stimulation is 0.3 ms, 5 mA, 10 Hz. Neural circuits are involved in propulsion when using these values.

Animals↗

Intraoperative recording of sacral root nerve signals in humans.

Electroneurographic signals were intraoperatively recorded from the S3 sacral nerve root in two SCI patients. The aim of this study was to record afferent nerve signals in response to mechanical stimulation of the urinary bladder, rectum, and dermatome. Such signals could be used in an implantable neuroprosthesis to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity. In both patients a neural response was recorded from the dermatome and the rectum, but from the bladder only in one patient. The results were consistent with results from animal and other human studies. Further studies are however, needed because the number of subjects investigated remains low.

Adult↗

Electrical stimulation to induce propulsive contractions in the porcine descending colon.

Electrical stimulation of the colon can improve transit in slow-transit constipation, or enable controlled emptying in colostomy patients. Preliminary studies showed that sequential stimulation of consecutive colon segments induced serial contractions resulting in colonic propulsion. This study was performed to optimize the stimulation parameters. The electrodes were inserted under the serosa of the descending colon of pigs. Charge-balanced rectangular pulses at 10 Hz were delivered in consecutive sessions. Electrically evoked contractions (ECs) were monitored using impedance planimetry and manometry. The luminal pressure and cross-sectional area (CSA), the latency and velocity of CSA decrease, and the wall tension were compared for ECs induced using 3 ms pulses of 9, 12, 15, and 30 mA. When using 15 mA, ECs induced by 0.03, 0.3, and 3 ms long pulses were compared. A current increase from 9 to 30 mA induced a significant increase in the pressure generated by contraction. The increase in pulse duration from 0.03 to 3 ms resulted in shorter latency, faster contraction, higher pressure, and higher wall tension. It is concluded that, at a frequency of 10 Hz, the best combination of current and pulse duration to elicit propulsive contractions in the descending colon of pigs is 15 mA and 3 ms.

Animals↗

Different pulse shapes to obtain small fiber selective activation by anodal blocking--a simulation study.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to reduce a charge per pulse, which is needed for selective nerve stimulation. Simulation is performed using a two-part simulation model: a volume conductor model to calculate the electrical potential distribution inside a tripolar cuff electrode and a human fiber model to simulate the fiber response to simulation. Selective stimulation is obtained by anodal block. To obtain anodal block of large fibers, long square pulses (> 350 micros) with a relatively high currents (1-2.5 mA) are usually required. These pulses might not be safe for a long-term application because of a high charge per pulse. In this study, several pulse shapes are proposed that have less charge per pulse compared with the conventional square pulse and would therefore be safer in a chronic application. Compared with the conventional square pulse, it was possible to reduce the charge with all proposed pulse shapes, but the best results are obtained with a combination of a square depolarizing pulse and a blocking pulse. The charge per pulse was up to 32% less with that pulse shape than with a square pulse. Using a hyperpolarizing anodal prepulse preceding a square pulse, it was not possible to block nerve fibers in a whole nerve bundle and to obtain reduction of a charge per phase. Reduction of the charge could be achieved only with spatially selective blocking. The charge per phase was larger for the combination of a hyperpolarizing anodal prepulse and a two-step pulse than for the two-step pulse alone.

Action Potentials↗

Neuroprostheses to treat neurogenic bladder dysfunction: current status and future perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Neural prostheses are a technology that uses electrical activation of the nervous system to restore function to individuals with neurological or sensory impairment. INTRODUCTION: This article provides an introduction to neural prostheses and lists the most successful neural prostheses (in terms of implanted devices). CURRENT TREATMENT: The article then focuses on neurogenic bladder dysfunction and describes two clinically available implantable neural prostheses for treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Special attention is given to the usage of these neural prostheses in children. FUTURE TREATMENT: Finally, three new developments that may lead to a new generation of implantable neural prostheses for bladder control are described. They may improve the neural prostheses currently available and expand further the population of patients who can benefit from a neural prosthesis.

Adolescent↗

Electrical stimulation for the treatment of bladder dysfunction: current status and future possibilities.

Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves can be used to cause muscle contraction, to activate reflexes, and to modulate some functions of the central nervous system (neuromodulation). If applied to the spinal cord or nerves controlling the lower urinary tract, electrical stimulation can produce bladder or sphincter contraction, produce micturition, and can be applied as a medical treatment in cases of incontinence and urinary retention. This article first reviews the history of electrical stimulation applied for treatment of bladder dysfunction and then focuses on the implantable Finetech-Brindley stimulator to produce bladder emptying, and on external and implantable neuromodulation systems for treatment of incontinence. We conclude by summarizing some recent research efforts including: (a) combined sacral posterior and anterior sacral root stimulator implant (SPARSI), (b) selective stimulation of nerve fibers for selective detrusor activation by sacral ventral root stimulation, (c) microstimulation of the spinal cord, and (d) a newly proposed closed-loop bladder neuroprosthesis to treat incontinence caused by bladder overactivity.

Animals↗